Hunan is one of the major tea-producing provinces in China, and Changsha's teahouse culture reflects this. The city has two distinct tea traditions: the old-style teahouse (chaguan) where regulars come daily to drink, read newspapers, and play chess or mahjong; and the newer bubble tea and premium tea shop culture driven by the city's young urban population and the entertainment industry's presence. Both operate at high density.
The old-style teahouses are concentrated in the quieter lanes of Furong District and the Yuelu Academy area. They open early in the morning and close late, serving inexpensive basic teas with sunflower seeds and peanuts on the side. The atmosphere is social and unhurried — exactly the opposite of a coffee shop. For the newer tea drink culture, the area around Wuyi Square has dozens of shops selling bing teas, fruit teas, and the various preparation formats that have swept Chinese cities over the past decade. Changsha has produced several of the most successful national tea shop chains.